Massacre of the Innocents

The Massacre of the Innocents occurred in 4 BC, when King Herod the Great ordered the execution of all young male children two years old and under in the vicinity ot Bethlehem so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews (Jesus). Jesus had been taken to Egypt by his parents Saint Joseph and Mary after Joseph had a dream of the slaughter taking place, and all of the children murdered were innocent and caught unawares. Jesus and his family would return to Nazareth after Herod's death that same year.